THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2017/2018

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Social and Political Science : Social Policy

Undergraduate Course: Children's Rights (SCPL10010)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Social and Political Science CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will examine critically a range of UK (and particularly Scottish) legislation, policies and services affecting children, through the concepts of childhood, rights and children's rights and the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UK Government ratified the UN Convention (with certain reservations) in 1991, and is now legally bound to translate the articles of the Convention into all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures (Article 4). Children's rights are now one of the strongest influences on children's services in the UK, and have required substantive changes in legislation, policy and practice. This course is highly participative, requiring regular contributions from all students.
Course description Academic Description:

This course examines critically a range of UK (and particularly Scottish) legislation, policies and services affecting children, through the concepts of childhood, rights and children's rights and the articles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The UK Government ratified the UN Convention (with certain reservations) in 1991, and is now legally bound to translate the articles of the Convention into all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures (Article 4). Children's rights are now one of the strongest influences on children's services in the UK, and have required substantive changes in legislation, policy and practice.

Outline Content:

By the end of the course and your own independent learning, you will:
- Be familiar with the conceptual frameworks of childhood, rights and children's rights, and be able to provide a critical evaluation of these frameworks
- Know and be able to evaluate the key principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Have knowledge of children's services, and recent developments, in particular policy areas
- Appreciate the significance of the children¿s rights movement for UK (and particularly Scottish) legislation, policy and practice and give examples of changes inspired by it
- Be able to evaluate the congruence between UK (and particularly Scottish) legislation, policy and practice, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- Be able to use relevant research findings in order to critique policies
- Have participated in group discussions and been involved in active group learning
- Have developed skills in accessing and using key policy resources: e.g. Government papers and reports, legislation, official parliamentary reports and media material
The course involves an introduction to core concepts of childhood, rights and children¿s rights, case studies of particular children¿s services, and a concluding overview evaluating progress on children¿s rights.

Student Learning Experience:

This course is highly participative, requiring regular contributions from all students. The majority of sessions are divided into 1 hour 'working groups' and 1 hour ¿lecturer-led' sessions.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting students should have at least 3 Social Policy or closely related courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses.
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2017/18, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  60
Course Start Semester 2
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 176 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Working group assessment (1500 words) 30%, Final Essay (4000 words) 70%

Feedback Students have the additional opportunity to receive weekly written feedback on the preparatory assignments they do before each working group.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the class sessions and your own independent learning, you should:

Be familiar with the conceptual frameworks of childhood,rights and children's rights, and be able to provide a critical evaluation of these frameworks

Know and be able to evaluate the key principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Have knowledge of children's services, and recent developments, in particular policy areas

Appreciate the significance of the children?s rights movement for UK (and particularly Scottish) legislation, policy and practice and give examples of changes inspired by it

Be able to evaluate the congruence between UK (and particularly Scottish) legislation, policy and practice, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Be able to use relevant research findings in order to critique policies

Have participated in group discussions and been involved in active group learning

Have developed skills in accessing and using key policy resources: e.g. Government papers and reports, legislation, official parliamentary reports and media material

Reading List
None
Additional Information
Course URL http://www.ed.ac.uk/social_policy/
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Kay Tisdall
Tel: (0131 6)50 3930
Email: K.Tisdall@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMr Daniel Jackson
Tel: (0131 6)50 3932
Email: Daniel.Jackson@ed.ac.uk
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